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Updated January 13, 2026 at 8:49 PM
We're answering your questions about local journalism and the newsroom at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Local news and sports are our franchise. They are what differentiate us, as we are the only major news organization to focus exclusively on Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
Here, we seek to answer questions about our journalistic approaches at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Our hope is that the transparency will help build a more trusting relationship between us — the folks in our newsroom and you, our subscribers and readers.
The Crossroads Lab is an ambitious editorial initiative to explore under-covered issues critical to the future of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, including topics such as public education, public health, social services and racial equity.
Read more about Crossroads LabGet the latest analysis and commentary on Fort Worth and Texas issues from our Editorial Board and columnists every Wednesday in Worth Discussion, our opinion newsletter.
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Steve Coffman, President and Editor
scoffman@star-telegram.com, @SteveCoffman1
Steve Coffman has more than 30 years of experience in the news business, starting as a reporter and working in editing roles in New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas.
Tom Johanningmeier, Managing Editor of News and Projects
tjohanningmeier@star-telegram.com, @johanningmeier
Tom Johanningmeier was the Star-Telegram's deputy sports editor for nearly 17 years before moving into his current role.
Amy McDaniel, Breaking News Editor
amcdaniel@star-telegram.com , @AmyCMcDaniel
Amy McDaniel has been the Star-Telegram's breaking news editor for the past two years. She previously worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel and The Jackson Sun in Tennessee.
Otto Strong, Sports Editor
ostrong@star-telegram.com
Otto Strong has had a lengthy career in journalism, including work as a reporter, night city editor and Sunday sports editor for Newsday. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and AP Sports Editors.
Ryan J. Rusak, Opinion Editor
rrusak@star-telegram.com, @rjrusak
Ryan J. Rusak grew up in Benbrook and is a TCU graduate. He spent more than 12 years as a political journalist, overseeing coverage of four presidential elections and several sessions of the Texas Legislature.
The Editorial Board serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice. The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote. The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.
We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Members of the board are:
Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board’s consensus positions, not the views of individual writers.
How are editorials different from news articles or signed columns? News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board’s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.
Read the Star-Telegram's editorials at star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials
The news staff is made up of about 40 full- and part-time employees: reporters, columnists, visual journalists and editors.
An additional 25 people are based at the Star-Telegram and include local advertising representatives, human resources and distribution personnel, and information technology employees. Some of those employees may provide services to other McClatchy properties, as well.
